When Father Davi de Melo hurried to the hospital to baptize a baby girl born prematurely, he had no idea how impactful and moving the moment would be; for him, for the family, and for millions of faithful online who were deeply touched by the video that quickly went viral.
The priest, who serves at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Recife, Brazil, recounts being contacted by a parishioner who explained that his granddaughter had been born prematurely and asked if he could go to the maternity ward to perform the baptism as soon as possible, given the delicate situation.
"Life that insists on living," Father Davi wrote in the post. He explains that Maria weighs “only 570 grams,” the equivalent of 1.25 pounds. “So tiny, so fragile, and yet, paradoxically, so full of life. Her beating heart pumps blood."
"Now, blood of God’s own lineage! More than that: a daughter! With all that this entails. It is a moment of joy for this young priest to share in this celebration taking place on earth and in heaven!" the post concludes.
In the video, the priest is seen baptizing little Maria Borba Reis, held in her mother's arms, using a small disposable cup and drying her off with a napkin.
Luiza Borba, the baby's mother, commented on the post grateful to the priest and asking for prayers: "Thank you so much, Father! Please pray for our Maria and for us."
Ordained three years ago, Fr. Davi revealed to ChurchPOP that this was the first time he had experienced such a situation. He felt joy but also some nervousness, noting, "I had performed baptisms in the ICU before, but never under these circumstances."
"I think I was more nervous than the mother herself, because when I saw the size of the baby… Wow, she was so tiny, I was startled; so I was very nervous, yet happy at the same time," he stated.
Father Davi said little Maria "is recovering" and that he hopes "she will be well soon, so she can be a testimony at the parish and return to the church to thank God."
As this was the first time he had performed a baptism under such circumstances, the priest asked the parents for permission to post the video on his social media. However, the priest did not expect the post to go viral so quickly, garnering over a million views in less than a day and moving people around the world.
"It was mainly to bear witness to the importance of parents having their children baptized as soon as possible, especially in circumstances like these, a more delicate situation, and I decided to share it, but I never imagined it would go viral so quickly."
Emergency Baptism
Paragraph 1256 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that "the ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon."
However, it notes that "In case of necessity, any person, even someone not baptized, can baptize, if he has the required intention. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes, and to apply the Trinitarian baptismal formula."
Father Davi explains:
"In the risk of death, all formalities are dispensed (...) and anyone, even someone without faith, an atheist, or a nurse who is not Catholic, can baptize at that moment, provided the baptism is performed 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit' using the Trinitarian formula and running water. And the baptism is valid."
Later on, if that’s the case, "the rites can be supplemented, but baptism is performed only once," the priest emphasises.
This, he reflects, reveals "the Church's desire for everyone to be saved."
Let us pray for little Maria!